O'Fallon Hoots

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O'Fallon Hoots
O'Fallon Hoots Logo.png
Information
League Prospect League  (Western Conference – South Division)
Location O'Fallon, Missouri
Ballpark CarShield Field
Founded2018
Former name(s) Hannibal Hoots (2018–2019)
Former ballparks Clemens Field
OwnershipRick DeStefane [1]
General ManagerDavid Schmoll
ManagerMatt Brown
Website OFallonHoots.com

The O'Fallon Hoots are a collegiate summer league baseball team in the United States Prospect League. The team played the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the Hannibal Hoots, but only one of those seasons saw them use Hannibal, Missouri as their home; flooding of their stadium led the Hoots to play their 2019 home schedule in nearby Quincy, Illinois at the home stadium of the Quincy Gems. Following the 2019 season, the Hoots moved to O'Fallon, Missouri and CarShield Field after the departure of the River City Rascals from O'Fallon. The Hannibal Hoots formed in late 2017. [2] and were an expansion franchise for the 2018 season. The Hoots and other collegiate summer leagues and teams exist to give top college players professional-like experience without affecting NCAA eligibility.

Contents

Rick DeStefane is the sole owner of the O'Fallon Hoots. [3]

On September 26, 2019, The Prospect League announced that the franchise would relocate from Hannibal to O'Fallon beginning with the 2020 season, playing their home games at CarShield Field. [4]

The Hoots play in the Prospect League's Western Conference – South Division along with the Alton River Dragons, Cape Catfish, Jackson Rockabillys, and Thrillville Thrillbillies. [5]

History

Hannibal's previous team in the Prospect League, the Hannibal Cavemen, suspended operations after the 2016 season, leaving the city without a team for the 2017 season. [6] The league awarded a new franchise to Rick DeStefane, with the goal of returning to the field for the 2018 season. [7]

For the 2020 season, the Prospect League ceased play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the O'Fallon Hoots played host to a six-team league at CarShield Field, with each team playing 30 game seasons. The CarShield Collegiate League began play on July 1, 2020, with a schedule of 7 inning games. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Stadium

The Hoots play at CarShield Field.

Seasons

SeasonManagerRecordWin %LeagueDivisionGBPost-season recordPost-season win %Post-season resultNotes
2018Clayton Hicks25–35.41710th5th11.00–0.000Did not qualifyInaugural season
2019Clayton Hicks [12] 23–37.38311th6th20.00–0.000Did not qualifyFinal season in Hannibal
2020Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021Matt Brown33–27.5505th2nd5.00–1.000Lost Prairie Land Division Championship (Cape)First season in O'Fallon
2022 Jonathan Mills28–32.4679th2nd4.00–0.000Did not qualify
2023Jeff Wetzler28–30.4839th3rd11½0–0.000Did not qualify
2024 Matt Brown29–27.5189th4th0–0.000Did not qualify
Totals166-188.4690–1.000

Roster

Active rosterCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Wyatt Brown
  • -- Sam Cardwell
  • -- Noah Cryns
  • -- Daniel Darin
  • -- Ryan Hoshaw
  • -- Barrett Lohman
  • -- Will Moore
  • -- Brayden Rubel
  • -- Owen Schneider
  • -- Peter Underwood



 

Catchers

  • -- Will Briggs
  • -- Tyler Lang
  • -- Ryan Stevens

Infielders

  • -- Andy Niebrugge
  • -- Justin Simard
  • -- Ben Stedman

Outfielders

  • -- Zach Beatty
  • -- Kyle Byrne
  • -- Brady Coon
  • -- Braden Hackworth
  • -- Brady Wilson
  • -- Henry Zenor
 

Manager

  • -- Jeff Wetzler

Coaches

  • TBD

Injury icon 2.svg Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated March 15, 2024

References

  1. "Parks Department Working on Hannibal Field | Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  2. "Hannibal Unveils Team Name & Branding | Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  3. Graeler, Kevin. "Hannibal Hoots encounter unexpected social media obstacle". Hannibal Courier. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  4. "O'Fallon City Council Approves Lease For Prospect League Team | Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  5. "2024 Prospect League Standings - Prospect League Baseball". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  6. "Cavemen 'suspending operations' for 2017 season". Herald-Whig. January 6, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  7. Dundon, Eric (November 8, 2017). "Hannibal's Prospect League team rebranded to Hannibal Hoots". Hannibal Courier. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  8. Reichard, Kevin (June 5, 2020). "How baseball is returning, from summer collegiate and indy to MLB". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
  9. Durando, Stu (June 9, 2020). "College baseball players find a summer home in O'Fallon, Mo". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  10. Miller, Corey (June 6, 2020). "CarShield Collegiate League to play in O'Fallon this summer". KSDK .
  11. "Hoots Launch CarShield Collegiate League". O'Fallon Hoots. June 5, 2020.
  12. "CLAYTON HICKS RETURNING TO HANNIBAL TO MANAGE THE HOOTS". Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC. January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.